DigiComs is one of the most important initiatives of the Impact Drive Foundation, aimed at preparing a new generation of digital communicators for causes in Bulgaria. The fourth consecutive season of DigiComs started in the fall of 2023 and concluded at the beginning of the summer of 2024. For us, this marked a new chapter in the development of DigiComs, as this season began with a brand-new look and content structure. In this article, we share a summary of the season, as well as the key takeaways we've gained from it.
The New Face of DigiComs
A year ago, while reflecting on the outcomes of the then-completed third season of training, we made the decision to rebrand DigiComs. The new season commenced with a fresh logo and key brand colors, along with completely revamped visuals for online communication, events, and the DigiComs website. The design and overall refreshed look of DigiComs were executed by Impact Drive’s communications specialist, Diana Manolova.
This rebranding reflects our commitment to evolving with the needs of our participants and ensuring that our visual identity aligns with our mission to empower digital communicators. The updates not only enhance our brand presence but also make it easier for participants to connect with the DigiComs community and engage with our offerings effectively.
We believe that this new identity will help us attract even more participants who are eager to enhance their skills and contribute to meaningful causes in their communities.
Shorter Training Duration: There was a clear preference for more concise training sessions.
Flexibility and Online Accessibility: Participants expressed a strong need for flexible scheduling and online access to the training.
Specialization in Specific Digital Marketing Topics: Many respondents indicated an interest in specialized training in certain areas of digital marketing.
Connection with Practitioners: There was a demand for opportunities to connect with and learn from recognized industry professionals.
Assistance with Job Placement: Participants sought support in finding employment after completing the course.
Based on the findings from the conducted survey, we decided to implement Season 4 with a revised educational structure tailored to the needs identified. DigiComs expanded to 10 thematic modules, each lasting approximately two weeks. Consistent with the program's format, the modules included 'live' online sessions followed by time for independent practical work to reinforce what was learned. With this change, we provided every participant the opportunity to enroll in modules according to their personal goals and needs
The New Curriculum
Here are the training topics we delivered to participants in Season 04:
Core (Basic) Modules:
Civil Sector and Cause Communication with Theodora Ivanova-Valeva, founder of Impact Drive Foundation: An introductory module to the world of causes, presenting the main principles and specifics of the civil sector as such.
Cause Communication Strategies with Diana Manolova and Veselina Panayotova: This module aimed to provide participants with techniques and tools to strategize communication priorities and operationally execute their communication strategies.
Communication Management: In this module, participants explored the practical aspects of working with digital communication channels and the various tools that allow us to create and manage online content. The lecturer was Fani Bachvarova, a content creation specialist and founder of Motif Media.
Digital Storytelling with Deyana Dragoeva, the first lecturer in DigiComs and founder of Via Civic: The goal of this module was to answer the question, "What is digital storytelling and its place in the communication of civil organizations?"
Digital PR for Causes with Ivan Radev, journalist and board member of AEJ-Bulgaria. This module paid special attention to good practices, ethical aspects, and nuances in handling information and sources in the online environment, as well as creating content tailored to the specifics of each online channel.
Advanced Modules:
Communication for Fundraising: A traditional module in DigiComs, with a special focus on fundraising as a communication subject. Instructors were communication expert Victoria Mindova and Teodora Ivanova, founder of Impact Drive.
SEO for Causes: This module dove deep into the importance of SEO for successful communication of our cause. Lecturer Ina Toncheva from Telerik Academy and founder of The InDigitals shared invaluable experience and resources for working with SEO tools.
Facebook (META) and Causes: Dedicated entirely to the world of META and tools for developing content on this platform. Numerous practical examples were presented, led by Ivelina Ansarova (founder of Accella Digital) and Fani Bachvarova (Motif Media).
Personal Branding and LinkedIn: For the first time in DigiComs, we paid special attention to personal branding as part of cause communication, as well as LinkedIn as a unique network for developing professional contacts. The lecturer for this module was Aleksendar Krastev, a well-known LinkedIn marketing specialist and founder of The Linked Blog.
Web Design and User Experience: The final module of DigiComs' fourth season covered the importance of web design and the usability of our websites as key communication points to the audience. Together with UX specialist Dimiter Simov from SAP Labs Bulgaria, we went through numerous practical cases and real-world examples.
Additional Content
For yet another year, we offered additional free content in the form of thematic webinars. In January 2024, we explored the topic 'Collaboration with Opinion Leaders (Influencers),' where our guest was Vihren Georgiev, photographer and founder of the platform People of Sofia.
The second thematic webinar took place at the end of March and focused on 'Artificial Intelligence for Causes' with guest Ina Toncheva, founder of Indigitals, blogger, and digital enthusiast. During the session, we explored the possibilities of integrating AI tools into our daily work, along with useful examples from Ina's practice.
The third webinar of the season was held at the end of May and focused on 'Under the Influence of Podcasts' with guests Kristian Yulzari, journalist and part of the Dobrocast project, and Viktor Djambov, blogger and digital specialist, part of the Telerik Academy team.
The series of thematic webinars filled us with new ideas and introduced us to a new stream of people, some of whom joined DigiComs in the subsequent training modules.
We also made strides towards the development of the DigiComs platform – a marketplace connecting cause-driven organizations with DigiComs graduates. During this season, we continued to maintain our community through the DigiComs Facebook group, where we regularly share information about upcoming trainings and job opportunities for causes. We also took the first steps in creating an integrated DigiComs platform on our website, thanks to our collaboration with SAP Labs Bulgaria.
As part of a pro-bono program with Pyxera Global, together with a highly dedicated team from SAP, we were able to create a conceptual project for the implementation of the DigiComs platform, with clear parameters and recommendations from professionals. Based on the prepared analysis and platform project, we now have a solid foundation to build upon in the further development of the platform. We would like to once again extend our personal thanks to the SAP team - Diana Balkanska, Ivan Angelov, Anelia Todorova, and Rosen Katsarov, for their full attention and dedication during the work process.
Despite the numerous technical changes that marked the start of the fourth season, the key objectives of DigiComs have remained unchanged this year. With the knowledge gained, participants can confidently build upon their skills or take their first steps into a freelance career as digital communicators. This initiative continues to be significant for the development of a new generation of digital communicators, capable of working in both business and nonprofit environments.
Equal Opportunities for All
As is tradition, in season 4, we provided a full scholarship to one of the participants who completed the entire course successfully. At the end of 2023, we also received an individual donation of 1500 BGN, which allowed us to offer another scholarship to a participant for the full training course. This way, we ensured an equal starting point for two women in our program and upheld our fundamental value at Impact Drive—equal opportunities and empowerment for women.
A first-person story by Maria Stoimenova - scholarship recipient in DigiComs Season 4.
English Language Café (ELC) began as an idea to create a tolerant environment where Sofia residents and migrants/refugees can gather and discuss in English. Since its launch in December 2022, the initiative has rapidly developed, organizing 63 events with speakers from 19 different countries. In the autumn of 2023, one of the participants in DigiComs, who is involved with ELC, joined the course as a scholarship recipient to enhance the communication strategies and branding of the initiative.
Here’s what Maria herself shares about her experience with DigiComs:
"I took advantage of the opportunity immediately (as a widow raising a child, unfortunately, I cannot afford to invest in voluntary initiatives or self-improvement as much as I would like). I applied, was approved, and started attending the modules at the end of January 2024."
DigiComs opened a new world for me and provided me with the knowledge and practical skills to develop ELC much more effectively.
Here are some examples illustrating the progress that our organization and I, as a budding digital communicator, have made in recent months:
With the help of DigiComs, I realized how crucial it is for ELC to establish itself as a brand. We selected a logo, colors, and a communication style that resonate with our mission. Currently, our logo is featured in all graphics promoting our events, which has significantly enhanced our visibility and brand recognition.
In 2023, ELC primarily reached its participants through a Facebook group and periodic Facebook event ads. However, after attending the DigiComs module on "Communication Management," I recognized the importance of having a dedicated Facebook page and created one. Currently, the ELC page has nearly 300 followers, averaging about 100 new followers each month. We are also in the process of establishing an Instagram profile.
Additionally, for each event, we now publish a specialized announcement with unique graphics, moving beyond just the periodic ad. I learned from DigiComs that Canva offers free access for nonprofit organizations; with the help of collaborators, I secured such access for ELC, which has greatly streamlined the process of creating promotional materials.
The importance of consistency in communicating with a given audience was a key topic explored in several modules of DigiComs. I applied the practical advice I received: I publish the ELC program for the upcoming month at the end of the previous month, and the registration link for our events is always available to the audience six days prior to the event.
The numerous useful practices related to partnership development learned in DigiComs have manifested in our ongoing collaboration with Multi Kulti Collective, as well as partnerships with Yame.bg, Natur Foods, D’Alys – la petite pâtisserie, African Caribbean Cultural Centre, and others.
The advantages of email communication were also covered in DigiComs. I am currently generating a database of email addresses for participants, and the pilot implementation has been met with great success.
These changes demonstrate how training in DigiComs helps participants not only develop their personal skills but also support initiatives like ELC in their growth. Maria's story highlights DigiComs' commitment to assisting digital communicators and their projects by providing the knowledge and practical skills necessary for the successful implementation of causes and projects.
We are already in the exciting preparation phase for the fifth season of DigiComs, which will kick off at the end of this year. Expect new topics and lecturers, and to stay updated with the latest news, sign up for our monthly newsletter. In it, we share updates about upcoming events, training sessions, useful resources, and special offers.
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